McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

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  • John Barrier Photo by KEVIN HARVISON

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  • Don Almeter, left, who is a correctional officer held hostage during the 1971 prison riot in Attica, New York, places a Correctional Peace Officers Association cap on the head of John Barrier, who survived the 1973 riot at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. The two met Thursday at the Walnut Grove Living Center in McAlester. Staff photo by Kevin Harvison Photo by KEVIN HARVISON

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  • Attica prison riot survivor Don Almeter, left, and Oklahoma State Penitentiary prison riot survivor John Barrier, right, exchange a handshake and mutual compliments of “You’re the man” during Almeter’s Thursday visit with Barrier at the Walnut Grove Living Center in McAlester. Staff photo by Kevin Harvison Photo by KEVIN HARVISON

    7-20-GUARDS-2.jpg

  • Don Almeter, a former correctional officer who survived being held and beaten as a hostage during the 1971 Attica prison riot in New York, talks with the News-Capital about the ordeal. Almeter spoke with the News-Capital while in McAlester to visit John Barrier at the Walnut Grove Living Center. Staff photo by James Beaty

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July 21, 2012

Attica, OSP riot survivors meet in McAlester

By James Beaty Senior Editor

McALESTER — They’re connected by an invisible bond —correctional officers who survived two of the worst prison riots in American history.

Don Almeter, a survivor of the bloody and deadly 1971 prison riot in Attica, New York, met John Barrier, who survived the devastating 1973 riot at Oklahoma State Penitentiary, for the first time on Thursday.

Almeter made it a personal point to visit Barrier, who had been savagely beaten by inmates while held as a captive during the OSP riot. They met in McAlester in a room at the Walnut Grove Living Center.

He could identify with what Barrier lived through.

During the riot at Attica, rampaging inmates had beaten Almeter while storming through the prison. He remained a hostage for days.

Almeter, who is now a volunteer with the Correctional Peace Officers Association and who lives in Florida, had told former OSP Warden Dan Reynolds he wanted to meet Barrier the next time he traveled to Oklahoma.

On Thursday, Almeter and Reynolds, accompanied by CPFO Field Representative Richard Loud, of Newport, R.I., met with Barrier in a private setting at Walnut Grove.

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